INDY NXT SERIES: GRAND PRIX OF MONTEREY RACE 2

September 6, 2026

Lochie Hughes

Tymek Kucharczyk

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Crazy to think it's the 2026 season finale. We're joined by Tymek Kucharczyk. Finishes third in the championship with his eighth podium of the season.

Also joining us Lochie Hughes, who started seventh. Best finish since a second at Portland a few weeks ago. Finishes the season with four podiums.

Tymek, congratulations. Your thoughts on obviously starting up front but staying up there, as well.

TYMEK KUCHARCZYK: Yeah, finished off the job from yesterday. A bit of redemption. The car was really good all week. I just maximized what I had today. I never backed down. Every lap I pushed to the maximum. I just wanted to prove the point that but not yesterday, things could have looked different.

Finishing off the championship strong is a good point.

THE MODERATOR: You look back at the season. Are you happy with it? Are you satisfied with the championship?

TYMEK KUCHARCZYK: I feel like in a way yes 'cause coming here for the first time ever, racing here in America, I was pretty much unknown going into the first round. Finishing off the championship in top three is a big thing, especially when the grid is so packed up this year. It was really, really strong, so competitive.

I'm proud of the work we've done. Obviously I want more. Today was a bit of a hard day. I couldn't really satisfy myself even with the win, a dominant win.

No, it is what it is. Nevertheless, the season been really, really strong. The team's been super supportive. So big thanks to them. Big thanks to my sponsors, as well.

THE MODERATOR: Lochie, maybe a bit of a straightforward race. What was it like out there today?

LOCHIE HUGHES: Yeah, I was giving it everything I had. Unfortunately it just was hard with Nikita having such clean air. Basically almost leading the race from my perspective anyway. It's just super hard get to get runs. Around here with the understeer you get, it was just difficult.

Had a couple cracks at him, but could never kind of get in the position I wanted to have a real crack. But yeah, no, happy to end the season on a podium. Last few races have been a bit unlucky. To end on somewhat of a better note is nice.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for questions.

Q. Tymek, to my knowledge you and Robert Kubica are the only two ambassadors of your country in international motorsport representing Poland. Is there any help either from the Polish motorsports authority or government when you want to move up in any way, financial help or contact help?

TYMEK KUCHARCZYK: I mean, we have couple of really strong Polish drivers in junior series, in F2, F3, F4. I'm not the only one. Obviously we're trying to gather budget usually from Poland, with Polish support, Polish government support. It's never easy 'cause the costs are just so, so high. It's the same for everyone. Every driver struggles for budget in any junior series. It's something you have to just battle with.

I have great support from Polish people. There was a lot of fans in the races this year. Really proud to represent Poland in America on such high level.

Q. Tymek, how frustrated were you yesterday? Can you compare the emotions of today to yesterday?

TYMEK KUCHARCZYK: Well, yeah, that was probably my saddest win of career. To be fair, it was hard to enjoy it. You're driving around, you're fighting for the championship. I felt like I did everything I could this week. Qualified P2, P1. I had everything under control. There's some drivers that just drive like totally reckless drivers that don't care about anything.

Yeah, well, it is what it is. It's part of racing. There's nothing you can do about it. I wish to turn back time. I probably would have left the (indiscernible) a little more space, probably get away, get away with a P2 yesterday.

Yeah, it's hard to compensate the victory today. Yeah, it is what it is. Still to bounce back and today prove I could jump in the car and be the quickest out there is a strong point I think I showed to everyone.

Q. Lochie, explain how your season has gone. A lot of ups and downs. How can you take that into next year with maybe another year of INDY NXT, whatever you may be doing?

LOCHIE HUGHES: Yeah, I'd say this year probably had more downs than ups. I think it's probably the worst season I've ever had definitely in America. Just kind of been one of those seasons. I felt like percentage-wise had it gone a couple percent in my way a couple times, I feel like we would be sitting here with a lot more race wins. With how competitive the championship is this year, if you don't get it right, yeah, it can go pretty bad pretty quickly.

Pretty disappointed with the season. I got to say a big thank you to Andretti for the last few seasons. It's been great racing for them. Unfortunately won't be back with them next year. Yeah, working on being on the grid at the Indy 500 next year, so... I'm hoping. Yeah, I'm confident we can be there.

Q. Tymek, you mentioned about proving something to people today. When you reflect on the year, what do you feel are some of the big positives that you have proven to people this season?

TYMEK KUCHARCZYK: I think I keep proving every year that wherever I go, I can battle up front. Whatever is thrown at me, I can stand up strong and keep battling.

This year has been probably one of my consistent years. I was up there for most of the time. There were some probably places where we lacked a bit on my side, maybe the team setup and so on. It's always a battle between pros and cons.

I feel like I just came here pretty much unknown. First week of the year I got a podium. IMS. Another win here. Laguna. Prove it's been a really strong year. Sometimes it's like this, like the fastest driver doesn't win championship. You just got to be consistent. You got to be up there for most of the year.

This year's just been so competitive, I feel like every weekend there's been driver that's been quickest. It's been interesting one. Yeah, a season kind of to draw a lot of conclusions from.

THE MODERATOR: It's been a pleasure watching both of you compete throughout the course of the season. Hope to see you again soon.